What I'm Doing Part II

So, I shared a bit ago about my work outside of Kabul. That is only about half the time I'm here. Granted, some of the time in Kabul is spent preparing the documents and trips out to the provinces, but most of the time here at the Embassy compound, I'm working on a large variety of activities. Every sector has working groups and I'm at least attending if not working on some of their activities. These include the following (yes, this will be a boring one-you can go watch one of the videos I post later if you want something interesting!):

UNAMA civ-mil working group (NGOs, Coalition Forces, and UN staff all attend to deconflict some of the problems and set up guiding principles as to how everyone can share the same space)

The rest are all within the US Governmental organizations:
Elections Working Group an example of some of the work is we prepared guidance for all the USG entities in the country on the steps they need to consider and start to take to support the Afghans.

Agricultural Policy Group

Special Committee on Rule of Law where we put together a list of ongoing activities and a request to Holbrooke for funds etc.

Governance Policy Group

Illicit Finance Strategy Team which is new and still establishing a work plan

Economic Policy Group

We put forward issues raised at the provinces to the working groups to help establish guidance on policy, priority, or implementation issues. Each of the groups is attended by all of the agencies and is responsible for all the programs and activities in the country. So for example the Economic Policy Group discusses everything from the IMF and World Bank to the fiscal and monetary considerations, the advisors to the ministries, to the approach to economic development out in the provinces.

Feel free to ask questions, I'm tired and probably did a lame job of spelling this out!

Peace...